Installing a brick walkway is easy and can add charm to your outdoor life. There are many different types and colors of bricks to choose from. Brick walkways are not difficult to make, but it can be a time-consuming operation, depending on the size and design of the walkway.
Steps
Step 1. Make sketches of the walkway to get an idea of the design before doing anything else
Some people like straight walkways, while others like to use a little imagination in the project and use different or different sized bricks.
Step 2. Use a garden hose to lay out a rough blueprint of the brick walkway
Garden hoses are long and flexible, making it easy to make changes.
Make sure the walkway is straight, unless you have the knack for cutting bricks to fit a curvilinear project
Step 3. Mark the walkway with poles, so you can work on the area without accidentally moving the original lines
You will need to mark each side of the walkway with posts.
Tie a colored rope from post to post, making straight lines to use as a guide when digging
Step 4. Cut a gap between the earth and the grass with a garden spade to create perfectly straight, vertical lines
Follow the walkway and dig into the earth for about 20 cm.
The depth must be consistent throughout the walkway
Step 5. Remove grass and dirt from inside the walkway area with a rounded shovel
This type of shovel is good for digging hard soils and grass.
Step 6. Level the ground appropriately for the walkway
While the walkway needs to be leveled, the ground should slope gently off the brick walkway, to serve as a runoff path for rain and snow.
Step 7. Lay a 10cm layer of gravel inside the walkway bed and press it down
Make sure you spread the gravel evenly on the ground.
Step 8. Place the plastic shapes inside the walkway to define its edges
These stand on the ground and act as a permanent support for the bricks. The bricks should fit inside the shapes, which are flexible enough to compensate for any curves in the edges of the walkway.
Step 9. Place bricks or slabs on the end of the walkway, edge to edge, if you plan to delimit it
Step 10. Fill the brick walkway bed with about 2.5cm of stone dust
This will do a great job under the bricks, acting like concrete once you pour water into it and let it dry.
Step 11. Press and level the stone dust
Check the walkway every few meters with a spirit level to be sure you are maintaining the right height and the right curve.
Step 12. Place the bricks or slabs on the stone dust
Using a rubber mallet, press each brick as you place it.
Step 13. Cover the bricks with another layer of stone dust after laying all the bricks or slabs
Step 14. Insert the stone dust into all the cracks and between each brick
Make sure you poke the stone dust along the edges of the bricks with a soft broom.
Step 15. Water with the water hose on the brick walkway to seal or fix the bricks in the stone dust
The stone dust will become hard over time, and will hold the bricks in place.
